Why are we here? The Big Bang to the Blue Ridge
- Appalachian Mountains: Formed over billion years ago
- among Earth’s oldest mountain ranges
- formation from the collision of ancient landmasses
- major uplift/folding occurred during Pangea (335mya)
- Once as tall as the Alps, eroded to plains, then uplifted again in the Cenozoic
- Continues to be shaped by erosion, weathering, and geological forces
Central Pangean mountains
Why are we here? Human presence in the mountains
- Native peoples arrived in the Appalachian region during the Paleoindian Period (10,000-14,000 ya)
- This initial settlement occurred at the end of the last Ice Age
- Settlers were highly mobile bands of foragers, hunters, and fishers
- Foraging, hunting, and fishing remained the subsistence for the Native peoples of Appalachia throughout the Archaic Period (3,000 to 10,000 ya)
Why are we here? Modern indengious peoples in the mountains
- The Cherokee people are the original Appalachians, with evidence indicating a human presence in the current Cherokee territory in North Carolina for almost 12,000 years
- The Appalachian Trail runs through 22 Native Nations’ traditional territories and holds an abundant amount of Indigenous American history
- The Appalachian Region includes 3 federally recognized and 5 state recognized Native American Tribal Communities
Why are we here? Indian Removal Act (1830)
- U.S. law that forced relocation of Native American tribes west of the Mississippi River
- tribes in the Appalachian region included the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and others
- lands coveted by white settlers for use as cotton plantations and gold mining
- Trail of Tears: Thousands of Cherokee were forcibly marched west in 1838; thousands died from disease, exposure, and starvation
- Cultural Disruption: Removal led to the breakdown of traditional social structures, languages, and spiritual practices
Why are we here? Early European settlement of the mountains
- 17th–18th Century Settlement: English, Scotch-Irish, and German pioneers arrived seeking land and opportunity
- In the late 1700’s most of the population in the United States was found east of the Appalachian Mountains
- Early pioneers and settlers traveled along the historic Wilderness Road west into the wilderness of Kentucky through Cumberland Gap
- Economic Focus: Primarily farming and livestock in valleys and hillsides
- Major Challenges: Faced rugged terrain, limited transport, and conflict with Native populations
- Cultural Legacy: Introduced traditions in music, crafts, and customs that shaped Appalachian culture
Why are we here? Modern Appalachian cultural history
- Industrial Revolution: Coal, timber, and iron extraction transformed the economy and population
- American Revolution: Served as a key defensive region; notable battle at Kings Mountain
- Federal Preservation: Creation of parks like Shenandoah, New River Gorge and Great Smoky Mountains signaled increased federal land management
- Modern Appalachia: Region remains culturally rich, facing ongoing economic and environmental challenges
Why are we here? Cultural identity in Appalachia
- Early Adaptation: Indigenous peoples developed seasonal hunting, gathering, and farming techniques suited to mountainous terrain
- Pioneer Ingenuity: Settlers built log cabins, terraced hillsides for farming, and used local materials for survival
- Resource Use: Communities adapted to isolation by relying on coal, timber, and small-scale farming
- Cultural Resilience: Music, storytelling, and crafts reflect and preserve Appalachian identity
- Modern Shifts: Residents face economic shifts, environmental change, and rural depopulation
Why are we here? Impact of those cultural choices
- Strip mining, mountaintop removal, and their environmental consequences
- Economic dependency on single industries led to cycles of boom and bust
- Cultural impacts: Displacement, community fragmentation, and revival efforts
Why are we here? Limiting stories in Appalachia
- Stereotypes: Poverty, ignorance, isolation
- Counter-narratives: Rich traditions in music, storytelling, community solidarity, and activism
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Question: How do these stories limit or empower regional identity and future policy?
Why are we here? The urgency for a new Appalachian story
- Climate vulnerability: Floods, erosion, and economic uncertainty
- Importance of cultural and ecological resilience
- Embracing renewable energy, agroecology, ecotourism, and localism
- reinvention of the economy
Why are we here? Approaching ecological thresholds
- Ecological tipping points in central Appalachia: Deforestation, water pollution, biodiversity loss
- Appalachian mountains are a vital migratory route and climate refuge
Why are we here? Approaching societial thresholds
- Socioeconomic thresholds: Outmigration, health crises (e.g., opiod epidemic), education gaps.
- In 2023, nearly 41,000 people left West Virginia
- What happens if we don’t act?
Why are we here? Shifting baselines in Appalachia
- Shift from dense forest and clean rivers to industrial scars and reclaimed lands
- What is your firefly story?
- Loss of traditional knowledge and oral history
Why are we here? Telling a new hero’sstory
- Appalachia as a place of strength, creativity, and resilience
- Reflect: What do you bring to this place?
- Artists, scientists, and citizens reshaping the narrative
- Act: How can you be a steward of Appalachian landscapes and cultures?
- How do we rewriting Appalachia’s story moving forward?
- Connect: How do we broaden the knowledge base of Appalachian past, present and future?
Science communication in Appalachia
- Barriers: Educational disparities, mistrust of institutions, digital divides
- Opportunities: Place-based science education, citizen science, ecotourism
Rebuilding trust in science in this region…
- Community-led research and partnerships with local universities
- Grounding climate science in lived experience (e.g., flood damage, farming shifts)
- Bridging tradition with innovation
Social Fragmentation: How can we mend the social fabric?
- Political polarization, economic decline, and outside exploitation.
- Yet also: inter-generational households, neighborly networks, and spiritual communities
Course Purpose in Context of ‘Why are we here?’
- This course is not just about learning facts—it’s about place-based awareness and civic responsibility.
- I will do my best to teach global change in an accessible manner. Our discussions, however, will be driven by the uniqueness of ideas, motivations, and concerns of you
- You’re part of a living history. What chapter will you write?
Lab Today: Build your Appalachian caricature
- Why are you here—in this class, on this campus, in this region?
- What do you hope to give and receive during your time in Appalachia?
- Try to use AI to build a caricature of your Appalachian self
Friday Discussion Assignment (posted on Brightspace)
- Reflect on what you’ve learned/know about Appalachia’s past and future AND your perceived knowledge of global change
- Check your group assignment (by last name) for Friday’s group discussion
- Submit short answers to the questions (min 1/2 page, max 1 page)
- Submit a link/pdf to at least one article that relates to your group questions